Hey peeps! I hope it's going well in every aspect of your lives! :D

Thanks to all the new subscribers and the wonderful reviewers of course:

NatNicole: Thank you so much for the compliments! I am glad you like this fic, and I will be updating on time from now on! No. More. Slacking! :D

SaiyaStyles: Yeah, I guess aliens don't surf that much.. :p Wasn't Piccolo the one who destroyed the moon after Gohan went all crazy ape when they trained? I think that episode is actually titled: "Piccolo blasts the moon" or something hahaha!

Dyton: Thanks! I don't want to reveal much, but Piccolo is indeed going to play a major role in this story! You'll just have to wait and see *dramatic lightning*

Reign of Sorrow: I don't have the heart to make Goku all evil and stuff, so don't worry, that won't happen! :D

SCStaff: Woah the loyal corrector has a lot of questions! Hahaha the story will indeed answer all your questions in due time, so I'm going to be evil and keep you hanging on that cliff of curiousness. :D

*Happy reading

CHAPTER 3: A SIMPLE WISH

(Goku's POV)

Have you ever gotten the feeling that you are being watched? Like stared at. Your breathing slows down along with your heart. All your senses are heightened because your brain knows there's something out there in the shadows, hidden from eyesight and earshot, but you could almost feel their penetrative stare touch your skin...

That's how I felt at the moment.

My feet ghosted upon the forest floor as I flew through between the trees. I could feel them chasing me; no sounds or sights of them could prove my theory, but I just knew it. The sound of my heartbeat filled my ears, adrenaline pumping like ice in my veins, my instincts screaming at me to do nothing in particular. Fear filled my body like blood. This was the hunt, and I was the prey. I paid no mind to my direction, moving being the only thing that mattered.

I was vulnerable, I had never felt so mortal.

My animalistic instincts, buried deep down beneath the morals and etiquette associated with humanity, were pulsing through me like a second heartbeat. I was oblivious to all but the goal. I could not fight, I could not hide. I could sense them behind me, rapidly catching up to me.

And suddenly they were practically next to me.

"Stop running away intruder!" I flinched at the sudden sound of the deep voice, a striking contrast against the silence. I knew I still had enough energy to circle the planet a few times, but oddly enough my body adhered to the stranger's request. I stopped, panting slightly as I turned around to face my follower. I held my hands high above my head as I turned, signalling that my intentions did not include doing him harm.

I smiled sheepishly as my eyes met with more than ten pairs of eyes, glistening with anger and fear. The man at the tip of the spear-formation of people had a particularly bone-chilling gaze, completely absent of fear. The phrase: if looks could kill, ran through my mind.

"Hey there everyone. I hope you are doing well today." I tried greeting, wary of the large crossbow held by what seemed to be the tribe leader.

"You are wasting your breath." The tribe leader spoke up. "I am the only one familiar with the universal language."

"Would you mind translating then; I think they have the wrong impression of me." Their raised weapons weren't very comforting at all.

It wasn't so much the pain, but the shock, the surprise, of almost anticipating, feeling the hot, wet pain in my chest, the hole the arrow made. It wasn't what I expected. I had thought there would be more pain. I stumbled, taken aback, still looking dully into the air, not knowing what came next, just knowing that if I didn't act quickly, I would be in some serious trouble.

I kicked hard against the ground, taking a long low leap toward the tribe leader. From my low position I reached down to press my hands against the ground, and then snapped my body straight up, making a summersault in the air. Moving quickly, I slammed my arms around his body, disarming his crossbow before I tightened my grip around his neck. I leaped back with him in my grasp, a threating look in my eyes. The other tribe members stared at me with disbelief and fear for their leader's life.

"Okay hotshot, that wasn't a very nice thing you did back there." I said softly in his ear. I was a lot taller and muscular than him, so I hoped I came across as vastly intimidating.

"What do you want with my people?" His quivering question fled from his mouth.

"Personally, I want nothing." I informed. "But my two allies are looking to wipe out all living things on your planet. That includes all of you."

His breathing quickened. "If you want to kill me, do it. But I beg you, don't hurt my family."

"I don't want to hurt you. I want to save you."

"Then why..." He started.

"You tried to kill me before I could explain." I interrupted. "I found a cave on the other side of this mountain, and I managed to get most of your tribe into it safely. I can lead you to it if you are willing."

"My wife, is she with them?"

I smiled. "Is she the one who wears a crown of feathers on her head?" I guessed.

"That is her. She is safe?"

"She is, but now I need you to explain everything to your comrades." I said slowly, my eyes catching the glistening of their spears in the sunlight. "Then we can go."

I released my grip on him and he starting speaking very quickly in a foreign language I didn't even try to comprehend. As soon as he was done, they all looked at me with tilted faces. He muttered something else and they cheered.

"Quiet!" I hushed with my finger in front of my mouth. "I don't want them to know you're here."

I waved a hand to signal them to follow me. They were very quiet as they traced my steps like professional trackers, in mere minutes we reached the cave. I happily sensed Radditz' and Bardock's energies a few miles away. They all rushed in but the tribe leader stayed behind.

"Thank you for helping us." His eyes were filled with gratitude. "You are a very kind man."

I smiled. "The pleasure is all mine." I nudged him forward. "I'll seal the cave with this large boulder, so they won't see you." I explained, glad that my father and brother didn't possess the ability to sense other living being's life forces. "Wait a day before getting out, just to be safe."

He nodded. "So we'll be safe after you leave."

"Yes." I answered. "This planet is going to be used as a storage facility, so you won't have to deal with many intruders."

He smiled. "I wish you good luck on your travels."

I waved at everybody before I pushed the boulder in front of the entrance. I flew back a bit, observing the hidden entrance. The other's won't be able to spot this even if they walk right by it. Happy with my work, I flew back to where I could feel their energies radiating from.

"Here you guys are." I exclaimed when I found them sitting in the shade of a big tree. "I've been looking for you."

"We knew you would come to us, so we waited." Radditz said nonchalantly as he took a big bite out of some fruit I have never seen in my life.

"Good strategy."

Bardock frowned as he looked me up and down. "Looks like they did a number on you." He commented, looking at the arrow stuck in my abdomen.

"It's actually not that bad." I replied. "I am going to take it out in the ship; then I can heal in the rejuvenation tank while we head back."

Radditz frowned, suspicion clear in his square features. "You are very chirpy for a good guy who just killed a bunch of innocents." He stated.

I shrugged. "I didn't like it, but fighting gives me a rush. I'll probably feel the remorse in the morning, when the adrenaline settles down."

"Remind me not to be near you when that happens." Radditz said. "I don't think I can handle your pathetic whining without hurting you."

"Noted." I replied. "So when are we getting out of here?" I asked.

"I don't think we got all of them." Bardock thought out loud. "I only killed about ten."

"Me too." Radditz echoed.

I clenched my fists, saddened by the twenty lives I didn't manage to save.

"How much did you get Kakarot?" My brother asked with interest.

"I lost count." I replied swiftly.

"No fair, you probably got more than me."

"I think we should scan the area before we leave." Bardock interrupted. "Just to make sure we didn't do half work." He rose to his feet in one effortless move. "Lord Frieza expects perfection."

Radditz and I agreed and we took to the skies. We had flown for a few hours before they caught movement between the trees. My eyes widened as I saw a child running through the forest, sprinting quite quickly through the growths. Before I could do anything to stop it, Bardock's energy blast rushed down to the young boy, hitting it's initial target. I flinched as the boy's body sailed through the air like a ship without a sail, before falling to the ground like a felled tree, clearly dead.

"He was just a kid." I snapped.

"Don't get all emotional Kakarot, we have a job to do." Bardock said without looking at me.

I refrained myself from saying anything else. They did most of the talking as we continued our search. Eventually we flew over the cave, but they didn't notice anything strange about it.

"Well, I guess that's it." Bardock concluded as we flew down to our ship. "Good job on the completed mission boys."

"This one was too easy." Radditz said irritated as he landed on the ground. "I next mission better be more challenging." He hope aloud.

"It wasn't that bad." I commented, but he just scoffed in reply.

Bardock placed his hand roughly on my shoulder as I walked up the ramp of the ship. "Wait a minute there Kakarot, we aren't done yet."

I frowned as his grip tightened over my limb like a clamp. I was starting to feel uncomfortable and just as I was about to open my mouth to air my unease, Radditz appeared behind me and gathered my spine in a death grip, paralyzing me from the neck down. What the...? A deeper frown paused on my brow. Bardock stared up at me with a happy sneer on his lips. I used all my might to get my arms and legs to move, but it didn't work.

It was then that Bardock's foot connected with my side. I would have thought that because I couldn't feel my body, I wouldn't feel the pain either... Boy was I wrong; if anything, the agony was amplified. He laughed as his eyes rested on my pained expression. His laugh grew deeper as he pressed his finger into the hole the bow had made through me. He dug in deeper until his whole fist fit into the gap in my abdomen.

I let out a pained breath, my eyes widening when he snatched his limb back out again, causing all my blood to rush out of my body like a crying crimson river.

He retracted his foot again, with an amused snicker he kicked me in the stomach, so hard that I should have been sent flying through the horizon, but I didn't move an inch. I could feel the pain spreading through my body with every blow he assaulted me with, but I couldn't react. It was as if I have turned into a statue.

I was getting woozy from the loss of blood and my head started drooping down. I remember my last thought being one of fright; that they knew that I helped those people, and that they were punishing me for it. After that everything went black...

I woke up freezing, a clanking metal sound pulling me back to consciousness. I noticed my surroundings had changed. I was no longer on that other planet, nor on our spacecraft. Quite frankly, I have never been here in my life; the room was barren and small, with nothing in it except for the strange piece of equipment I was sitting in. I tore away all the wires that stuck to my head and chest and stood up. I frowned when I noticed my naked state.

"Kakarot!" I recognised Bardock's voice instantly when he entered the room. I immediately sprung into a flawless fighting stance, staring at him with a hardened gaze.

"You heal quite fast." He noted as he neared me.

I crouched down in a fighting stance, staring at him with a gaze absent of mercy.

He laughed as he looked at me. "Please, don't tell me you are trying to be intimidating whilst in the nude." He shook his head slowly, an expression of humour planted on his face. "Put some clothes on." He pointed to the the floor next to the tank I climbed out of. A fresh armour was laid out.

"Why did you attack me?" I asked agitatedly. "I thought we were on the same team."

He rolled his eyes. "Stop being so melodramatic." He complained. "We attacked you because we are trying to help you."

"You were trying to kill me!" I exclaimed.

He let out a sigh. "Let me first ask you this." He paused. "Do you, by any chance, feel a little stronger?"

To be honest, I felt better than I have ever have. "Why?" I asked, rather than dignifying him with an answer.

"We Saiyans, as a race, possess an edge many warriors wished they could have. After every battle our power increases. It rises the most after a near death experience, hence the reason we almost killed you." He explained. "Would you please clothe yourself, I am starting to get uncomfortable."

I let down my defences. "Oh."

"So what do you say about being almost killed tonight again?"

(Chi-Chi's POV)

"Please, please, please tell me the Dragonball is down on the ground somewhere." I asked in a hopeful tone of voice, looking up guardedly at the monstrous tree. I have never felt so small.

"Yeah." Bulma's voice trailed off. "I wish I could." She replied after staring at the radar's screen for a few prolonged seconds. She shot me a reassuring smile. "But don't worry, I have a ladder in the supply closet."

I frowned. "How tall is this ladder?" I asked, looking back up at the tree.

"I guess it's kind of tall."

"Uh, I think kind of tall, won't make the cut." I rolled up my sleeves until they balled up uncomfortably around my shoulders."I'll get it."

She stopped in her tracks and raised her eyebrow at me. "Do you want to get the Dragonball today?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

She shrugged. "I rely on man-made tools more than the actual man."

"I'm stronger than most men." I bragged. "This is nothing for me."

She shot me a look. "Slow down Sasquatch, we don't want the tree to tumble over by your manliness." She proceeded to the aircraft. "My way is quicker, trust me."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine, we'll do it your way." I declared against my will, not in the mood for a stupid quarrel.

Bulma disappeared back into the craft and came out a few minutes later, panting slightly. The climbing tool was folded up smaller than its original size, but she was still struggling to carry it. She placed it at the base of the tall tree, stepping away from it and wiping her head with the back of her hand, strain in the form of perspiration shining on her forehead.

"I already told you I could easily climb this tree." I said again, crossing my arms over my chest defiantly.

She rolled her eyes. "And I already told you that I am not going to rely on your mannish skills." She secured the ladder against the tree. "We are doing this my way, remember?"

I clenched my hands into delicate fists next to my sides. If she wasn't helping me to find Goku, I would have slapped her a long time ago. I forced a smile on my face. "I remember."

She returned the gesture; it was smug. "Good girl." She cooed like I was some obedient pet of hers. "You are more than welcome to climb this ladder."

I suppressed a growl. If I just did it like a suggested in the first place, we would have been done by now. "With pleasure." I venomously forced out of my mouth.

I positioned myself in front of the ladder and started climbing as soon as I was sure that the tool wouldn't topple over if I climbed it. At the very top of this tree was a nest, which Bulma was sure the Dragonball rested in.

I was exhilarated when I finally reached the top. But the nest was empty of life, except for a few stray feathers, proving that there indeed lived some sort of bird in here. I lavishly grabbed the Dragonball from the nest and moved back down the ladder. I jumped off the tool when the ground didn't seem too far anymore.

The soil was cool and firm under my bare feet. A light breeze caressed my body, and something tickled my nose. I opened my eyes but immediately closed them after being assaulted by sunlight. I paused and tried to relax my body, which I realized ached deeply after the exertion. The greatest pain though was in my chest, but it wasn't a physical hurt.

Bulma and I made our way back to the ship and took off again without a minute to wait. Luckily the next location wasn't that far away and we arrived at the supposed destination in less than half an hour.

The large airship slowly descended upon a large patch of open land, steam issuing from the exhausts. After a moment or two, the hatch opened, a set of stairs filing down to the ground and we finally stepped out of the ship.

"So this is Papaja Island, huh?" Bulma said, the corners in her mouth raised in distaste. "Quite bland, isn't it?"

"Can I see the radar please?" I asked the young scientist, afraid that she will start a rant about how all islands are supposed to be luscious and luxurious.

"Sure."

She pulled the Dragonradar out of her pocket, turning it on as I crowded near her. The radar's map took a moment to reconfigure for the new area, finally showing up as an orange blimp appeared. I smiled, eager to find the Dragonball, one step closer to wishing back the love of my life.

"Alright, let's start looking." I proclaimed enthusiastically. I turned to Bulma. "Do you think there are any inhabitants in this area?"

"Hope not." Bulma said with a peculiar look in her eyes. "But if there are, they should at least be hot."

I frowned. "Aren't you and Yamcha close to getting engaged?" I asked, struggling to hide the judgement in my voice, questioning her loyalty.

She shrugged. "We've been dating for years now." She let out a bored breath. "If he wanted to put a ring on this finger," She held her naked ring finger up towards me, wiggling it for effect, "he should have done it a long time ago. But before I'm officially hitched, my eyes are gonna wander. Don't you think?"

"I suppose." I muttered, not agreeing with her at all, but not showing it. I could not imagine desiring anyone else but my husband, and if she really loved Yamcha, wouldn't she feel the same way?

After we walked through the overgrowths for nearly an hour, blindly following the bleeping signal on the radar, we reached a village.

"The signal is really strong." Bulma said softly, staring at her invention. "I think there might be more than one Dragonball here."

On my guard, we slowly entered the village, Bulma was walking a pace or two behind me. I felt wary, alert and on the lookout for any sudden attacks. This was second nature to me now, having grown up with a huge target behind my back, I learned from an early age not to trust the silence, knowing that I could be up against some tough competition.

"Hello?" Bulma foolishly called, making me flinch. "Anybody here?"

"You sure that's a good idea?" I asked through gritted teeth, my eyes scanning the area for any sudden movements.

"Only way we're gonna find out about that Dragonball. Wonder where everyone is?"

"Maybe everyone is not as friendly and good natured as us." I snapped.

"Who are you?" Someone asked before Bulma could reply.

We whirled around, I automatically resided in a fighting stance. My heart was beating quickly and I could feel my palm getting moistened. I was looking at a younger version of my father, although one adorned in robes instead of a crown and battle armour. There was no malice in his eyes, only wariness, like one who had survived a vicious battle. My muscles immediately relaxed, and I stood up straight.

"Who are you?" He repeated, louder.

"We are looking for the Dragonballs." Bulma spoke up.

"Why would you want such things as that?" He asked, shocked. As if he perceived the Dragonballs as holy.

I took one step closer. "I want to wish my husband back to life."

"So you only wish to use the sacred Dragonballs for noble intentions?" He asked. "You don't seek them to cause death and destruction or of selfish reasons, like many others who have walked here before you."

I shook my head profusely. "Not at all! I just want to wish Goku back."

The man's eyes widened at the mention of Goku's name.

"The one you speak of is the man who defeated the evil Demon King Piccolo."

I smiled. "That's him."

He nodded. "Very well then. I believe you have good intentions." He decided. "Dante!" He called.

A young man, barely an adolescent, stepped out of the nearby hut, constantly looking at the sky before joining our little group.

"Yes father?"

"Can you retrieve the Dragonballs so we can give them to these strangers?"

"Are you sure?" He shot us a hesitant look.

"Yes."

Dante hurried back into the hut, returning a moment later carrying a Dragonball in each hand. The young man approached me and handed the glowing spheres over to me.

"Thank you very much. This means a lot."

"Take care; I hope you get what you wish for."

After thanking the people we were on our way again. "We only have two more to go!"

"Okay, so the next Dragonball is right… about… here." Bulma announced, tilting her head.

I pouted. "In this giant and possibly deep river?"

She glanced back at the radar to confirm and nodded. I groaned. Just as I reluctantly decided to get in, there was a mighty splash, with Bulma nowhere to be seen. I tried to stare through the water, but the water was deep and mysterious, I could only see my own wobbled reflection stare uncertainly back at me.

A few moments later, she resurfaced with a huge grin, a Dragonball in the palm of her hand. I helped her back up onto dry land, and she shook the water from her hair. I shot her a look of confusion, surprised that she just dove into the lake.

She caught me staring. She smiled, flicking her darkened damp hair over her shoulder. "What, I needed to cool off." She tossed the ball to me and I caught it against my chest, scared that if it fell, it would break.

"How far is the next one from here?" I asked, following Bulma back to the ship.

She checked the radar for a second before turning to me. "I would say about an hour." She commented. "We'll be able to summon the dragon by sunset." And that we did.

Not wandering too far from the place we found the last Dragonball, we discovered an open patch of field. We were far away from civilization, so we thought this was as good a place as any, to summon a colossal magical being.

We carried the seven Dragonballs out of the ship, three with Bulma, four with me. Almost instantly after we placed the seven relics together on the ground, they started to glow brightly. I moved my wary eyes to Bulma's fascinated ones, not sure how to proceed from this. She shot a nod in my direction and extended her tanned arms over the glowing spheres and closed her eyes.

"We summon you great Dragon." She said in a slow, but steady, voice.

The sky around us turned as dark as night and a white beam of light appeared, slowly taking shape until it had formed into a giant reptile. But this wasn't like anything I had ever seen. When Goku described the wish-granting being to me for the first time a few years ago, I imagined it to be giant and scary, like something out of an old folktale mothers would scare their children with to enforce good behaviour. But this one was much different, more human-looking, if that could be said. It was still very intimidating and large, to say the least, but for some reason, I felt secure.

"You who have awakened me, I shall grant you a wish." The Dragon's voice boomed, his red eyes glowing fiercely down at us.

And apparently it could talk.

I turned to the dragon. "For my wish, can you please bring my husband, Goku, back from the dead."

There was a moment's pause. "It cannot be done, the one you call Goku is not dead." The dragon stated.

My lips spread into a wide grin and a feeling of glee bolted through my entire being. "That's great news!" I had to use great self-control to contain my happiness and relief at that moment. "Then I wish for Goku to be teleported to our home in Mt. Paozu."

"It cannot be done." The dragon continued. "He is not his own master. He is not a free man, I don't have the power to take something that doesn't belong to itself."

I blinked rapidly, processing the idea of Goku actually being kidnapped like I thought. It angered me and a blind rage settled in my stomach, making it to the surface. "The hell you can't!" I shouted.

"Chi-Chi, calm down." I was vaguely aware of Bulma's wary attempt off subduing me.

My face reddened, starting at my cheeks and spreading to the rest of my face as I grew more livid. "So he is alive! All you have to do is bring him back to me, that cannot be as hard."

"State your wish."

"I wish for Goku to be freed from whoever is keeping him."

"It's beyond my power to grant that wish. The person chooses to be captured."

I frowned. "He chose to stay away from me?!" My brain tried to make sense of the sentence that laid scrambled before me, but it just couldn't. Those words weren't meant to be placed continuously together, ever.

"State your wish or be gone." The dragon grumbled impatiently, violently grabbing me out of my reverie.

I closed my eyes and sighed. All my rage completely vanished, having been replaced with the much heavier feeling of total dread and despair.

"With everything that we have been through, I have always thought as myself as the stronger one, but I see now that that is not true." I was admitting this more to myself than to anyone else. "I need Goku, I cannot live without him, and I don't know why he would choose to be away from his family, and I wish that I could someday get the chance to tell him that."

"Your wish is granted."

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Hello again!

I need you guys' input on something. I am not sure what path to take from here, but I have two suggestions: 1. A time skip of a few years, till when Gohan is like 11 or something and let the story progress from there, or 2. Three or four more chapters out of Gohan's and Chi-Chi's perspective, illustrating how Gohan grows up fatherless. If you have other suggestions in mind, I'm open to hearing them! Just drop what you would like more in a review, or PM me. :)

Just note that I already have a fixed plot in mind, and that neither of the fore mentioned ideas will have an impact on it.

*See you when I see you!

- Wilmi